Los Angeles Erupts as ICE Raids Spark Protests and Clash With National Guard
Source: Squarespace/ Unsplash
Tensions exploded over the weekend in Los Angeles as fallout from a sweeping series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations ignited city-wide protests, political infighting, and a sudden military deployment that deepened the standoff between California and the Trump administration.
It began with a wave of aggressive ICE raids across the city, part of a renewed federal effort to target undocumented immigrants. Among those detained was a prominent California union leader, setting off a chain reaction that turned anger into action. By Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators had taken to the streets in protest, blocking intersections, chanting outside government buildings, and clashing with local police.
The situation quickly escalated when President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to assist ICE — a move made against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. The deployment drew immediate condemnation from state officials and civil rights organizations, who called it a dangerous politicization of military force on U.S. soil.
On June 8, the protest scenes turned chaotic. National Guard soldiers and local law enforcement used tear gas and flashbang grenades to disperse crowds gathered downtown. Videos circulated online showing armored vehicles rolling down Sunset Boulevard and protesters scrambling as gas canisters filled the air. The message from the ground was clear: Los Angeles was becoming a battleground.
Governor Newsom formally requested the removal of the National Guard by Sunday morning, calling the deployment "an outrageous abuse of federal power." But as of press time, troops remained stationed in key parts of the city, including around ICE facilities and city hall.
The confrontation now marks one of the most visible flashpoints in the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement, state sovereignty, and the limits of presidential power. While dozens of individuals remain in federal custody, including community leaders and activists, the city is left bracing for what comes next — not just in courtrooms, but in the streets.
